Xavier Becerra Secretary at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Twitter Website
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service (IHS) has revealed a significant development in water and sanitation infrastructure funding for Tribal communities. At the White House Clean Water Summit, $700 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was announced alongside a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to enhance collaboration and streamline Tribal access to resources.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Investing in critical infrastructure helps to improve health and safety for children and families, and advances economic opportunities throughout Tribal communities.” This partnership aligns with President Biden’s Executive Order to remove barriers and enhance Tribal access to essential resources.
IHS Director Roselyn Tso highlighted the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, noting that over 765 projects have been supported across all IHS areas, benefiting more than 36,000 American Indian and Alaska Native households. The funding will enable the construction of 91 projects in FY 2024, furthering the goal of providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to Tribal communities.
A key component of the initiative is the collaboration between IHS and the Bureau of Reclamation, aimed at accelerating the completion of Tribal facilities lacking reliable access to domestic water supplies. The partnership will also raise awareness about resources available to Tribes through the BOR’s Tribal Domestic Water Supplies Program.
One of the pilot projects under this collaboration involves the Yakama Nation in Washington State, where a treatment system will be constructed to remove arsenic from the water supply using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The memorandum of understanding with BOR allows for technical support in implementing such projects.
In addition to the partnership with BOR, IHS has joined forces with the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps to bolster the skilled workforce addressing critical needs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This collaboration aims to improve recruitment and retention of officers with expertise in engineering, environmental health, and health services, ultimately enhancing public health infrastructure and advancing health equity.
The strategic alliances forged by the Biden-Harris Administration underscore a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Tribal communities by addressing essential infrastructure needs and promoting opportunities for growth and prosperity.
